Existing Knowledge Based Training Needs of Small Farmers

Abstract

The study conducted in Junagadh district of Gujarat in June 1976. Small farmers' overall knowledge, taking all the four crops and all the practices together was found far below the 'fair' level. This shows that small farmers need training in all the four crops. However, the knowledge level, for bajra, wheat and cotton was below fair level, while it was almost 'fair' in case of groundnut. Again, small farmers' knowledge was 'poor' in plant protection practices.Further, knowledge analysis in plant protection practices suggests that small farm-ers are almost totally ignorant of control measures of prevailing diseases, extent of damage caused by prevailing diseases, storage of grains, extent of damage caused by insects and pests, treatment of seeds, and control measures of insects and pests. Con-sequently the actual training necessity score in those, is almost equal to '2' (Maximum mean score in an item). It means, small farmers needed more training in plant protection practices.